Master

The queen-bedded, orange-hued master bedroom is large and airy, with soaring wood ceilings. Two sets of sliding glass doors lead out to the pool and the garden courtyard with its jungle views. Colourful carved Balinese doors open to a private water garden where a huge river-rock bathtub rests under the sky alongside a rushing creek fed by a holy spring.

Guest bedroom one

Themed in a deep red, this ground floor room, with its queen-size bed and ensuite bathroom, opens out onto the pool terrace. What gives this room its edge is its access to a pond fed by a holy spring and backed by a plant-strewn wall, which creates the magical feel of a forest stream.

Guest bedrooms two and three

These two bedrooms are almost identical, with hardwood floors, queen-sized beds and ensuite bathrooms that exude class and comfort. Where they differ is in their colour schemes and their views. One room is themed in blue and looks out to the grotto-like holy pond, while the second is aquamarine-themed with a delightful window seat and a stunning river and jungle view from the bed. Both are accessed from the pool terrace.

Studio room

Resting riverside, directly below guest bedroom three, this yellow-themed room is the most private of all and arguably has the best view. Glass doors at the front open out to a waterside garden overlooking the river and the towering trees on its far bank.

Atacaya's main living and dining room is on the villa's uppermost tier, flanked by a water garden and a rock wall festooned with orchids and tree ferns. This room also provides guests with their first glimpse of the beautiful river valley view. With open sides and a lofty alang-alang thatched roof, this fan-cooled space offers a semi-indoor dining option with a table for 12 conveniently situated next to a self-contained kitchen, and a small sitting area to one side of the dining table.

Down at ground level is a covered, open-air sitting space with a bar at one end and an air-conditioned TV room at the other. Wide sliding doors to the TV room can be opened onto the sitting area to create one big sociable space. Outside in the garden, a glass-topped table set upon white marble paving stones, provides dining for 12 under the stars. As night falls, staff light a firebowl at the edge of the lawn, which throws dancing shadows around the courtyard.

At the far side of the garden courtyard, the 15-metre swimming pool appears to overflow into the river valley. As you cool off at the pool's edge you might just see the iridescent blue flash of a kingfisher as it swoops over the water.

A spiral staircase winds down to a riverside deck. This is the perfect place to practice yoga or meditate to the murmur of the river. Also on this level is a bale relaxation pavilion ? just the spot for a massage.

One of the greatest advantages of staying in a villa is the personalised service provided by dedicated staff. Villa Atacaya's staff have been professionally trained and will do their utmost to please with their warm and friendly Balinese hospitality.

Villa manager
Villa Atacaya's friendly manager is responsible for the overall operation of the villa. His job is to oversee and coordinate the staff and property and to assist guests during their stay. Sharing his time between Atacaya and two other nearby villas, he makes sure all guests' needs are taken care of each morning, and is on call should any problems arise.

Chef
The villa's skilled private chef will happily prepare anything from the Western, Asian, vegetarian and children's suggestion menus, as well as discuss special requests and dietary requirements.

Butlers
The butlers are highly trained professionals who are dedicated to making sure their guests experience great five-star service and are left wanting for nothing. They also look after the daily housekeeping and domestic duties.

Garden and pool
Two gardeners maintain Villa Atacaya's lush gardens, ponds and swimming pool.

Driver
A driver and car (seating up to 7 passengers) is available to villa guests for ten hours a day (excluding petrol).

Security
Three guards provide night-time security.

Private pool facing to the sea 15 x 4 x 1,4m - Chlorinated.

Villa Atacaya is situated in a jungle-fringed river gorge close to the village of Beraban in Bali's Tabanan regency, which is known as Bali's ?rice bowl' due to its vast terraced rice fields. This quaint village bordering a river is a rare example of a traditional Balinese community barely touched by tourism and the rapid development to the south of the island. Villa guests are accorded a privileged insight into the agricultural, religious and daily life of the friendly villagers. Just four kilometres away is the famed Tanah Lot sea temple and the award-winning Greg Norman-designed Nirwana Bali Golf Course. The nearest surf beaches, including Echo Beach, are about eight kilometres from the villa.

Nirwana Bali Golf Club
4km

Tanah Lot
4km

Echo Beach, Canggu
8km

Seminyak
13km

Kuta
21km

Denpasar Airport
25km

Ubud
31km

Jatiluwih rice terraces
40km

Villa Atacaya's manager will have a wealth of information about nearby places of interest and will help arrange transport and make any bookings required. Do also ask the staff about the local area. Many of them live nearby and will be able to give an interesting insight into some of the fascinating aspects of Bali life.

In the meantime, here is a taste of the many and varied activities on offer within reach of the villa.

• Villa Atacaya is close to the famous temple at Tanah Lot (4 km), although in peak season a few too many tourists may transform a sunset visit into more of a heaving photo opportunity than a moving experience. Visiting early in the morning (8-9am) provides a better idea of the power of the location and the chance to see it undisturbed apart from perhaps an offering ceremony.

• A nice sunset alternative is to head down to Echo Beach (8km) where a number of cafes offer good sunset views and cold beer. Note that the beach here is dark volcanic sand and the waters are better suited to surfing, having a pronounced swell and rip, rather than children's swimming.

• Hotel Tugu, a very stylish and eclectic boutique hotel a few minutes further down the coast from Echo Beach is also a good sunset spot.

• Fashionistas, trendies and shop-a-holics should hot-foot it down to Seminyak, Bali's most cosmopolitan enclave (13km). Here, you can indulge for hours in the glut of stylish, chic boutiques. There is a wide choice of fine dining, mid range, and cheap ?n cheerful restaurants in Seminyak too: fine dining venues include Sarong, the famous Ku Dé Ta, Mama San, Merah Putih, La Lucciola, Sardine and Métis.

• Play a round at the unbelievably scenic Nirwana Bali Golf Course (4km). Bordered by ocean and rice fields and just down from Tanah Lot sea temple, no wonder this championship-standard course (designed by golf legend, Greg Norman) is frequently voted number one in Asia.

• Drive westwards to explore the charming Tabanan regency, revealing terraced rice fields of emerald green, volcanic mountains and black-sand beaches dotted with fishing communities. You may wish to visit the breathtaking panorama of the Jatiluwih rice terraces (40km), which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008 for its preservation of traditional Balinese farming techniques. At a height of 850m above sea level, the view here is one of the finest imaginable. Alternatively, head north to explore the volcanic lakes near the mountain town of Bedugul, including Lake Bratan with its photogenic and stunningly positioned Pura Ulun Danu ? one of Bali's most important temples.
  

• Bali Treetop Adventure Park is near the town of Bedugal in northern central Bali (next to Lake Bratan). Five adventure circuits, with heights ranging from two to 20 metres, challenge all level and ages on suspended bridges, spider nets, Tarzan jumps and 12 flying foxes.

• Covering 3.8 hectares of tropical parkland in Kuta, Waterbom Bali has 16 water slides (including The Climax with its 360 degree loop) to entertain the young and the young at heart. A great family day out, but go early to beat the crowds.

Exclusive use of the villa and all its facilities, including the services of a villa manager, chef, villa attendants, car and driver for up to eight hours a day, tea and coffee, and breakfast.

FamiIies

Dining

SPA